Time to conduct LG election in Kaduna

SINCE the inception of democracy, state governors have shown little or no interest in the conduct of local government election.

Constitutionally, local government election is vested in the hands of state governors. Most of the local government councils in Nigeria are being run by interim management committees, contrary to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution

Governor Nasir el-Rufai is among the state governors that are yet to conduct local government elections in their states. The governor, during his campaign, promised to conduct the local government election within three months in power.

In 2016, the state government is said to have budgeted N3.5 billion for the exercise. Two years after,the governor has failed to keep his promise.

While the neighbouring states of Kebbi and Sokoto have since conducted local government elections, Kaduna State has not fixed any date for the exercise.

The government cited court orders and inadequate preparation from the state’s electoral umpire.

It is a surprise to many Kaduna indigenes and admirers of Governor el-Rufai that, as an advocate of constitutional democracy, he has not conducted local government election in spite of the repeated assurances he has given.

In the last two years, the people at the grass roots have been robbed of development presence in their area.

While federal allocation keeps coming to the 23 local governments of the state, the funds have remained idle in the state coffers, leaving little to the unconstitutional interim administrators to pay salaries and maintain the councils.

Local governments as the third tiers of government need a free hand to run their affairs in line with  constitutional provisions.

It behoves the governor to hasten  the conduct of election for the socioeconomic development of our 23 local governments and the state in general.

SINCE the inception of democracy, state governors have shown little or no interest in the conduct of local government election.

Constitutionally, local government election is vested in the hands of state governors. Most of the local government councils in Nigeria are being run by interim management committees, contrary to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution

Governor Nasir el-Rufai is among the state governors that are yet to conduct local government elections in their states. The governor, during his campaign, promised to conduct the local government election within three months in power.

In 2016, the state government is said to have budgeted N3.5 billion for the exercise. Two years after,the governor has failed to keep his promise.

While the neighbouring states of Kebbi and Sokoto have since conducted local government elections, Kaduna State has not fixed any date for the exercise.

The government cited court orders and inadequate preparation from the state’s electoral umpire.

It is a surprise to many Kaduna indigenes and admirers of Governor el-Rufai that, as an advocate of constitutional democracy, he has not conducted local government election in spite of the repeated assurances he has given.

In the last two years, the people at the grass roots have been robbed of development presence in their area.

While federal allocation keeps coming to the 23 local governments of the state, the funds have remained idle in the state coffers, leaving little to the unconstitutional interim administrators to pay salaries and maintain the councils.

Local governments as the third tiers of government need a free hand to run their affairs in line with  constitutional provisions.

It behoves the governor to hasten  the conduct of election for the socioeconomic development of our 23 local governments and the state in general.

• Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua,Kaduna State.